Pay attention, boys: the headmaster will now eat a tarantula. A grammar school’s new head finds a gut-churning way to make an impression

Are you scared, sir?

I joined St Olave’s grammar school in southeast London as headmaster at the
beginning of last month, and if the parents of the 950 students didn’t know
who I was then, they certainly do now. It all started when a friend, or
should I say someone who used to be a friend, came up with the idea of a
spider-eating task to raise money to buy equipment for our new sports and
drama hall. I agreed to take on the challenge.

Once I realised what I had let myself in for, it was too late — there was no
way out. The following day in assembly I told the pupils that if they could
raise £1,500 in sponsorship money I would eat a tarantula. Lo and behold,
they came up with £1,700 in no time at all. It’s amazing how many of the
boys stopped me before